Pope Francis Tests Negative For Coronavirus

Pope Francis who has been suffering from cold which has made him cancel a Lenten spiritual retreat in the Roman countryside has tested Negative for Coronavirus according to a report by New York Post.

Pope Francis submitted to the swab test as a precaution after coming down with an illness days after he expressed support for patients suffering from the deadly virus.

The 83-year-old pontiff could be seen coughing on Sunday as he addressed thousands for his weekly blessing from St. Peter’s Square.

During the event, he announced that he won’t be attending a Lenten spiritual retreat in the Roman countryside.

He asked for prayers for the retreat, adding that “unfortunately a cold prevents me from participating this year. I will be following the meditation from here.”

The Vatican had not previously specified what sort of ailment the Pope was faced with, though the announcement comes as the coronavirus sweeps Italy.

However, with the recent test, fear of Coronavirus has been swept under the bus.

Italy has seen 52 deaths due to the virus and the number of confirmed cases reached 1,835 on Tuesday.

Also, Nigeria has confirmed a case of Coronavirus and the victim is also from Italy.

Pope Francis is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory III, who reigned in the 8th century.